Candidates who took the Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Eligibility Test on Sunday found to their dismay that the test had set a higher benchmark this year.

“English was easy as the questions pertained to grammar but Tamil was tougher. Math questions were lengthy and required time to understand them. They were interspersed with science, making it tougher,” said a teacher with 10 years’ experience. She teaches science for classes 6 to 8 in a private school in the city.

A social science teacher, who retook the test as his eligibility had expired this year, said history and civics questions were difficult. He had qualified in 2013 and reached the stage of certificate verification but the coveted government job did not materialise.

“We don’t know from where the questions were selected. The questions in psychology were tough,” said a zoology teacher from Tiruchi. The question paper devoted 30 marks to subject specialisation and 120 marks for the rest of the subjects. Around 4.5 lakh candidates teaching in middle and high school students took the test.

P.K. Ilamaran, president, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Association, said since teachers concentrate on subjects they teach, they lose touch with other subjects.

“At least the 1,500 teachers who might lose their job if they do not clear TET should be allowed to take a special test. They have worked continuously for seven years,” he said.

Around 60,000 candidates who have qualified TET are still jobless, he pointed out.

“The hopes of 13,500 candidates who were selected for certificate verification in 2013 after clearing TET and awaiting placement received a blow when the promised jobs did not materialise. Instead, the Minister has said only candidates who pass a special exam will get jobs,” Mr. Ilamaran said.